posted 01-10-2000 05:49 PM
Shiebler's Gothic has two clusters of grapes in the center of the handle. Examining 185 pieces, 6 pieces do not have these grapes. The six pieces are dinner knives (10 1/4") with BSP blades; nine other dinner knives have the grapes. These grapeless knives were bought together from Vi Walker and have identical monograms. A second example of a grapeless dinner knife has appeared on Ebay (230154187). The Ebay knife was purchased in Boston and has a different monogram. The grapes have been carefully removed with a sharp tool, not a buffing wheel. Has anyone else seen grapeless Gothic? Any ideas why the grapes were removed?

posted 01-10-2000 06:58 PM
On a hollow handle it is unlikely that the grapes were burnished/polished off. Removing the grapes this way would most likely cause a break in the silver. It's more likely that the die was made/cut without the grapes. It may be nothing more than a mistake. Like the mistakes by the US mint that make it into circulation ...... does this make these "grapeless gothic" pieces more valuable?

posted 08-27-2000 02:41 PM
Friday at the Baltimore Antique Show we purchased a single lot of Gothic. Grapes were absent from all 12 teaspoons, all 6 luncheon forks and both tablespoons. Grapes were present on the sugar shell, master butter knife and pie fork. The monograms on the teaspoons, luncheon forks and tablespoons were identical. The monograms on the remaining pieces were all different.

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